Part VI: Day Spa

He'd been to a Day Spa once.

He had tried to pep up the marriage by buying a voucher to a Day Spa. To let her relax. Take a load off. Chillax.
But as always, his efforts didn't hit the mark. Whether it was flowers or a night out, he just couldn't get a "WOW" from her eyes.
There was the mandatory, "Thanks", followed by a "That's So Sweet".
But the eyes, her eyes, they didn't light up. They just registered another chore to be done.
There was no longer a connection.
They had both changed.

So, he attended the Day Spa.
Strip down, put on a white fluffy robe.
Feet into a cool foot bath which had the aroma of a herbal tea. Gentle foot massage.
Take off the robe and lay onto the table. Towel covering the buttocks and the body covered with the "special" mud.
Mud so special, that it had travelled 2000 kms, from a special place, to be applied to the skin. It would bring up the impurities and toxins from within the body.
Then take a quick rinse and wash all that special mud away.
Lie back onto the table for a deep tissue massage.
Then sit in a huge bathtub. Relax in luke warm water.
In fact, they turned off the lights for 45 minutes, so you could, "relax". In the dark.
He could have done this at home.

Sitting idle and waiting was like torture.

And here, at the hospital, it was very much like that.
Tedious. Invasive. Boring.

He had an interview with Dr Lee.
Then off for a blood test. The thought of a needle in the arm irked him.
But watching the needle entering in the arm was quite enjoyable.
His brain going "Omg, there's a needle going into my arm. I feel pressure. And...there it is, blood coming out."
That was probably why people faint. The reality check is all too much for the mind to handle.

He had to await the CT scan. So, he called his boss.
"Hey Boss, gonna have to take a couple of days more."
He explained the situation, possible stroke, loss of right arm, tests at the hospital and so on.
"Oh, bad news mate. Sorry to hear that. You best get better asap ok? You take care of yourself. " There was a pause.
"It would be good to get you back, mate. The works kinda falling behind without you here. So, two days right?"

His boss. Personable as always. He was fine when things were running well, but, sorta got very nervous whenever the department was off target.
He couldn't blame him. His boss had accidently printed off his incentive plan to the departments printer in error.
On target bonus was huge. Half of his salary, and that was just for a quarter of the year. No wonder he was keen to have him back.

He spoke to his ex. She wanted a full rundown.
She would look after the kids while he was recovering.

He had a quick chat with his boys. The eldest one didn't have much to say. Obviously, laying low after the school situation.
The younger one was talking about things that he didn't understand and he had no clue what to answer.
What the hell was Roblox?
So, after a blurt of words that he couldn't comprehend, he got off the call,with a quick, "Love ya Dad".

He had lost touch with his boys.
It was all fine when they were little. They were little tasks to be reckoned with. Change a nappy? No problem. Prepare a meal? Done.
It was all fine until they became too heavy to carry. It was a cord had been broken.
One minute, he was central to everything, and the next, he was out of touch.
It seemed like he was the odd one out.
They went about their daily activities and he was just there. Provide a helping hand as required but no common interest. He enjoyed watching them doing things at home, but it wasn't a close relationship.
He imagined that his is what it would be like to watch futuristic Holographic TV.
You're there, but you are not really there.

The CT scan was eerie. It was like how a donut would eat a human.
The donut scanned his brain.

He was hoping this would be over soon. He hadn't eaten anything for a while and just wanted to go home.

Results would be revealed tomorrow during the morning consultation.
If the results were clear, no further tests, just a discussion with a Life Therapist, which was some type of higher level Nutritionist, but with more skills, by the sound of things.

On the way home, he was about to call the Ex and invite himself over. He sort of felt the need for company.
He ran the scenario through his mind. He couldn't see a positive outcome.
She would be connecting the dots as to why he ended up "unwell".
The kids would be doing homework or something else.
Simon would be a complete nice guy. Simon would add 100 positives and be offering to help and he would be hating every minute.

He sat in a Vietnamese restaurant by hims3lf.
He quite liked the iced coffee. Instead of milk, they used a type of condensed milk. He quite enjoyed that.
He picked some dishes that he could handle with one arm.
The owner was a pushy lady, but quite sweet. She asked about him about his arm ordeal.
They had known each other for several years.
When it came to paying the bill. She refused his money.
"You get better first," She scolded him "You a good man but you need to smile more! You too "selious"! Think too much!"

At home he looked at his face closely in the bathroom mirror.
Who was this person looking at him?
Grey hair. Wrinkles around the eyes. The eyes were a little bloodshot. Tired eyes.
And no smile.
No smile in his eyes or anywhere on his face.
"Why are you unhappy?" He asked the man in the mirror.

He answered with a single tear rolling down his cheek.

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Part VII: Depressed

Part V: Stroke